Paris In October – What’s on, Weather & Best Things To Do
In October fall arrives in Paris with cool, crisp days and leaves showing their colors. Paris celebrates the harvest with the Montmarte Wine Harvest Festival in early October. Spooky season then descends on Paris with Halloween on October 31.
📅 October At A Glance
🍁 October Average Temperatures: High 61°F (16°C) | Low 45°F (8°C)
🧡 Sunrise/Sunset: 7:30am | 6:00pm
🎫 Booking Urgency: Although crowds are lower in October, we recommended to book tickets for major monuments and your priority sites/activities a few weeks in advance
📶 Crowd Meter: Moderate at major sites
🇫🇷 Notable Events: Montmartre Wine Harvest Oct 7-11 | Salon du Chocolat Oct 28-1 Nov | Halloween Oct 31
🖼️ Museum Shows: Musee D’Orsay Mary Cassatt – The Choice of Independence Oct 6-Jan31 Book Here →
🛥️ Getting Around: Batobus Hop on Hop Off Boat. Learn More Here →
🗼 Les Frenchies Recommendation: Enjoy the change of seasons in the French countryside with a day trip to the Champagne region.
Paris Weather in October & what to pack
Fall is in full swing in October with cooler temperatures during the day and crisp afternoons and evenings. Crowds in the central tourist areas are more manageable and you may need a sweater or light jacket for strolling the streets.
- Average Temperatures: High 61°F (16°C) | Low 45°F (8°C)
- Rainfall: On average October has 11 days of rain
What To Pack For Paris In October
As Audrey Hepburn said, Paris is always a good idea – and we completely agree. There really isn’t a bad time to come. As fall arrives layers are your friend. Layering clothing that allows you to adjust from crisp mornings to warmer days back to cooler evenings is key. As always we recommend a versatile capsule wardrobe with mix and match pieces. Parisian style is actually quite simple – so worry less about fashion and more about comfort. Bring along a scarf and/or a cardigan sweater for warmth and to sharpen your more casual outfits. A light jacket is a good idea for fall and the cooler weather can bring rain so good to be prepared. Opt for stylish sneakers to allow you to walk. Leave the fall boots with high heels at home – they are not good for the cobblestones of Paris.
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
When packing for your trip less is more. Leave behind your “just in case” items. Paris has stores at all price points and pharmacies in every neighborhood. Anything you forgot you can buy and believe us you will never use that extra thing you brought “just in case”. Read our full packing guide here →
What’s On In Paris In October
Montmartre Wine Harvest
Admission: Free | Location: Sites Across Montmartre, Metro: Anvers and Blanche (Line 2)
October 7-11 brings the Fête des Vendanges (Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival) to one of Paris’s most vibrant neighborhoods. The festival opens with the opportunity to visit the Clos de Montmartre vineyards (October 7-9) and the overall program includes day and nighttime events with a full evening of events celebrating 93 years of the festival on October 7. Food, wine and music make this festival a marvelous way to explore the Montmartre neighborhood. For a full schedule of events visit the official website at fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com
Salon du Chocolat
Admission: €14 for adults and €6.50 for children younger than 12 | Location: Paris Expo Center Porte de Versailles, Metro: Porte de Versailles (Line 12)
From October 28 to November 1 Paris hosts the Salon du Chocholat, a global Chocolate exposition. With over 500 exhibitors and activities, immerse yourself in the world of chocolate through tastings, educational pavilions and demonstrations from world renowned pastry chefs. For a full schedule of events visit salon-du-chocolat.com
Spooky Season – Halloween In Paris
Halloween is not a national tradition in France but in recent years the fun of dressing up and celebrating the spooky season has become more prominent. A fun way to enjoy the spooky season in Paris is with a special evening Seine Cruise – particularly during the Halloween week when some lines offer Halloween themed cruises. Leading the Halloween celebrations is Disneyland Paris, with a Halloween festival running through October and a special parade and party on October 31. For more information visit the official website at disneylandparis.com
Read More About Seine River Evening Cruises →
See our top 10 questions and answers about visiting Disneyland Paris here→
Fall Museum Shows
Starting October 6 and running through January 31, 2027 the Musee D’Orsay features the special exhibition Mary Cassatt Being Independent. This show brings together more than 80 paintings, pastels and prints including works normally on display in the United States. It is a rare opportunity to see a paramount collection of the artist’s work.
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip – Paris Museums and Shows
October continues the fall cultural season in Paris and many museums open new shows at this time. Paris has more than 130 museums and they come in all shapes, sizes and genres. To help you navigate your choices see our guide to the Best Museums in Paris→
Best Things To Do In Paris In October
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Paris in October.
🎭 Experience Paris Cabaret
Attending a cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge or Crazy Horse venues is one of those Paris experiences that lives up to the hype. Each has its own history and character.
Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge in French literally means “Red Mill.” The venue and its cabaret show is a living piece of French culture and history that has sat at the heart of Montmartre’s bohemian nightlife for over 130 years. Today, the Moulin Rouge presents its revue show “Féerie” — a spectacular production featuring 100 performers, over 1,000 costumes, elaborate sets, acrobats, magicians, ventriloquists, and yes, the famous finale and its Cancan dance.
Crazy Horse
The Crazy Horse Paris (officially Le Crazy Horse de Paris) is one of the most iconic cabaret venues in the world. Founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin on the prestigious Avenue George V, just steps from the Champs-Élysées, it has been dazzling audiences for over 70 years with a unique blend of dance, light artistry, and avant-garde choreography. While the Moulin Rouge offers a large-scale dinner show format, the Crazy Horse is a far more intimate and artistic experience. The venue seats only about 350 people, which means every seat delivers an up-close view of the stage.
⭐ Learn Something New
Paris offers the chance to participate in aspects of French culture that are world-famous. You can learn about the tradition of perfume making and make your own scent, you can take a baking class or take a deep dive into French wine. Some of our favorite classes and activities include:
- Perfume Workshops: Perfume workshops are one of the most memorable and genuinely unique things to do in Paris. Paris has been the global capital of perfumery for over three centuries – so there’s no better place in the world to learn this art. All you need is your own curiousity – no experience needed as an expert perfumer guides you though the process. At the end of a perfume class, you leave with a beautiful bottle of a perfume that is your own signature. More On Our Favorite Perfume Workshops →
- Pastry Classes: A pastry class over a 2 to 4 hour period offers a hands-on baking experience with a professional French chef (a pâtissier or boulanger). You learn to make a French classic: macarons, a croissant, an éclair or a tart. By the end of the session you take home what you make. More On Our Favorite Pastry Classes→
- Wine Tasting: Tasting wine in Paris is one of those experiences that sounds intimidating until you actually do it — and then you wonder why you hesitated. Whether you want to sip Grand Cru Bordeaux in a historic cellar or learn to pair Burgundy with perfectly aged cheese,Paris has a wine experience designed exactly for you. More On Our Favorite Wine Tasting Experiences →
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Food Tour Tips
If you want to taste some of France’s signature dishes in a casual atmosphere – a food tour should be on your list. A food tour in Paris isn’t just a way to eat well — it’s the single best way to actually understand the city. You’ll duck into neighborhood boulangeries, taste cheeses your average restaurant will never serve and hear stories about the neighborhoods no guidebook bothers to tell. Read Our Food Tour Guide →
Things To Book Before You Arrive
If you are planning to visit Paris in October the summer crowds may be gone but it is still recommended to book ahead for some of the city’s more prominent attractions.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is October a good time to visit Paris?
October ushers in cooler temperatures and ebbing crowds. The city’s museums are welcoming new special exhibitions and the Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival is held October 7-11, giving a great excuse to spend time in one of Paris’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
What is the weather Like in Paris in October?
October in Paris features crisp mornings and generally cooler conditions. The cooler temperatures can also bring fall rains. Average Temperatures (F°): High 61 | Low 45.
Is October Less Crowded in Paris?
If you are traveling to Paris in October the summer crowds will be gone but major sites still welcome some crowds. If you plan to visit some of the city’s top sites (the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sainte Chappelle), we highly recommend you book in advance of your arrival (2-3 weeks in advance to get your preferred days/times).
What should I wear in paris in October?
As fall arrives layers are your friend. Layering clothing that allows you to adjust from crisp mornings to warmer days back to cooler evenings is key. Cooler, rainer weather means a jacket and sweater may be good to pack. As always we recommend a versatile capsule wardrobe with mix and match pieces. Parisian style is actually quite simple – so think about dressing up more casual clothes with a scarf and accessories. Opt for stylish sneakers to allow you to walk. Leave the fall boots with high heels at home – they are not good for the cobblestones of Paris.